Reservists: Sorry for trusting gov't, IDF
Reserve soldiers ask for a forgiveness of sorts through Ynet: ‘We ask the people for forgiveness for relying on country’s leadership, on IDF General Staff. We are sorry we let irresponsible leaders grab the reins. We returned from war in shock – from the incapableness, disorganization and severe failures
This year, the combat division of the army reserves decided to ask for a forgiveness – of sorts. Reservists called up from their routine lives and sent to fight in Lebanon asked to send their appeal for forgiveness through Ynet – forgiveness from the people, the leadership, and from themselves, for the naiveté and ingenuousness that they carried with them to the north, but that was gone by the time they went home.
IDF soldiers in Lebanon (Those pictured not related to article; Photo: IDF Spokesperson)
“It should not have happened like this. We should have come home, to routine, to monotonous and simple life, and continued to exist in this place, where ‘living is fun.’ But the fun is gone. It faded when the rockets hit and when the government ignored its citizens who were under fire; it vanished when the refugees fled the bombarded North with no one helping them. The fun dissipated with the confused reserves call-up, the muddled orders and the irresponsible government that was only good at running to the journalists with details of every planned operation and strategy, even before informing the fighters themselves.
“We are sorry, and we ask the people for forgiveness for relying on the country’s leadership and on the IDF General Staff. We are sorry for our dulled senses and obliviousness. We are sorry that we let irresponsible leaders grab the reins of the government. We are sorry that we didn’t protest and didn’t object. We are sorry that we weren’t involved enough in the life of this small country. We are sorry that we didn’t know that our lack of involvement would cost us all so much bloodshed. We returned from the war in shock – from the incapableness, disorganization and severe failures.
"This war's shortcomings have made us more determined than ever to fight for the state's internal character and to struggle for the image of its leadership. These days we are collecting the testimonies of hundreds of reservist soldiers and northern residents and we are shocked by the shortcomings. Testimonies speak of injured soldiers who lay in their blood for four hours in Dibel, and rescue never came, of canons that didn't fire because weapons and supplies never arrived, of soldiers hallucinating from lack water, of old weapons and crumbling equipment.
"We, the reservists who fought there, can only continue fighting, although this time not with rifles and tanks, but with banners and demonstrations. We apologize, we are regretful for our shortcomings, and with these dark feelings we join all Israeli citizens in condemning this failed and irresponsible leadership. Our soul searching is deep and and serious, and we are endeavoring for moral absolution, voluntarily, with fire burning within us to atone for our inaction.
"We pray that maybe someone in the prime minister's house is soul searching as well. Someone who understands that he made mistakes and has to take responsibility; someone who understands that there is something more important that his personal political future; someone who understands that his unwillingness to present the truth to the public seals our and his own fate.
"To him and to all the people of Israel, we wish you be signed in the book of life."
